Estonian President Toomas Hendrik IlvesOffice of the President of Estonia

Toomas Hendrik Ilves may now be president of Estonia, but the Leonia High School graduate still touts his Jersey roots.

A Washington Post report detailed his upbringing in Leonia, where he learned the computer programming skills that helped turn Estonia into the European Silicon Valley.

Ilvis was born in Sweden to Estonian parents but moved to Leonia when he was three. He graduated as Leonia High School valedictorian in 1972. President Barack Obama mentioned Ilves' New Jersey ties during a speech today, and you can watch those remarks below.